UCI and CONI set to clash in court over Pellizotti

The UCI and the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) are on a collision course over the latter’s decision to clear rider Franco Pellizotti of doping offences based on data from his biological passport.

CONI exonerated the former Liquigas rider saying there was insufficient evidence to prove the rider had manipulated his blood.

But now the UCI has challenged that decision and wants it to be investigated by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Pellizotti has already said he plans to sue the UCI over lost earnings resulting from his suspension from riding in the second half of last year. Among his palmares are a polka dot jersey from the 2009 Tour and a fourth place in the General Classification at the 2008 Giro d'Italia.

The biological passport is supposed to be a scientifically robust method of determining whether or not a rider has manipulated their blood by building up a blood profile over the rider’s entire career.